Not Enough Calories?

[shellbell33081 115]

Hi everyone! I'm only 9 days post-op, but I'm worried I may not be getting enough calories. My surgeon's paperwork doesn't specify calorie goals. I figured about 800, but I'm not even getting 500. Should I be worried or will I get more calories in once I start soft foods? Thanks for any advice!!

[traceyc 89]

So early out I wouldnt worry about calories much yet. Once you get to solid foods the calories naturally go up. Just worry about getting in your Protein and fluids. I could only do about 400 calories in the second and third week. Since about week 6 i have been doing around 1000.

[4ALongerLife 329]

I've been wondering about this as well. myfitnesspal.com is telling me I'm not getting enough. But as soon as I have a few days where I have gotten enough calories, bam I lose weight. How many calories is enough? How do you do that and stay on 3 meals a day whenever I can't get that much into my pouch at one time.

This is hard right? Any advices?

[mmorral 19]

I am in the same boat. I am 9 days out and I don't know if I am getting enough calories but at the same time today is the day that I am starting to feel more hungry and that worried me. I got up to 570 calories today on creamed Soups and Protein Drinks. I did however, get in 57 grams of Protein when my doctor wanted at least 40 so that is successful.

[PonyUp 24]

I am three weeks out and even on creamed/pureed foods I am struggling to get 600 calories. This is typical I think the first six weeks while we work through the stages of eating, but I do push myself to drink and get Proteins in. I find I drink less when I have the cream/pureed foods...so, i need to work on.

[mmorral 19]

Thanks, Ponyup! I feel better. Did you get hungry when you were transitioning from full liquid to soft / pureed food? If so does that stop when you start actually eating?

[PonyUp 24]

I am only three weeks out and I have 4 food phases and I am just starting phase 3 (soft/blended/pureed foods) and although, I have had moments of PHYSICAL hunger, that is not my struggle so much, but moreso MY TONGUE MISSES THE TASTE OF GOOD FOOD! (Is your hunger head or physical hunger?...I had to ask myself that when I did feel it) I have only had blended/pureed carrots thus far and about 2-3 oz. is all I can consume at one time. I am transitioning okay (stomach handling puree) but find myself not drinking or getting my liquid intake as well as when I eat more dense food vs when I was drinking my meals!

Wow, look at all the weight you have lost already....lucky you!

[4ALongerLife 329]

Ponyup, do you have a whole foods there? My dr's nurse suggested cioppino Soup from whole foods and it's FULL of flavor. I'm in soft/pureed and it's like real food! lol... it is real food, but with some flavor and consistency. And mmoral, yes I did get hungry in b/w those phases, it started back then but I'm having some head hunger too sometimes.

Handling it all is a struggle, but we will get there.

[PonyUp 24]

Wow 4ALongerLife, You have lost a lot of weight in a short period of time! It appears my fate is to be a slow loser, but I am okay with that as long as I can within eight months to a year lose 80 pounds. I too am going for 140 and I am 5'6" (use to be 5'7"). However, I do not know how realistic that is, I have not seen 130's or 140's in 15 years! (Since my late twenties early thirties).

Thanks for the food suggestion...that always helps, unfortunately, there are not any Whole Foods near me...three house away is the closest. However, at a discount grocery store in town they have boxed organic Soups that are creamy soups and pretty tasty for the price. I am eating Southwest Creamy Corn Soup tonight!

[mmorral 19]

I am only three weeks out and I have 4 food phases and I am just starting phase 3 (soft/blended/pureed foods) and although, I have had moments of PHYSICAL hunger, that is not my struggle so much, but moreso MY TONGUE MISSES THE TASTE OF GOOD FOOD! (Is your hunger head or physical hunger?...I had to ask myself that when I did feel it)

Today was physical hunger. I guess because it is the first time that this has happened since I started this journey; I got scared. Thank you the weight loss has been a long time coming. My Heaviest was 330 and lost 24 pounds before surgery. My doctor was trying to get me to be a candidate for a new procedure. From 2 days before surgery till now was the 15.5 lbs. I am afraid to see if anymore has come off. I think that might be why I got scared when I got physical hunger.

Thank you for sharing your experience, PonyUp, it helped a lot

[PonyUp 24]

I understand the being scared part, because the few times I did have real hunger I thought "oh great, I got a huge portion of my stomach removed to still only have the hungry monster come out", but it has lessened and now I am scared that I will be such a slow loser and not lose all my weight! Oh well, it is a process of re-learning, learning the new stomach, etc. WE can do it!